Selected quad for the lemma: mercy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	forgive_v	lord_n	sin_n	11,546	5	5.1796	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A17810	The historie of the life and reigne of that famous princesse Elizabeth containing a briefe memoriall of the chiefest affaires of state that haue passed in these kingdomes of England, Scotland, France or Ireland since the yeare of the fatall Spanish invasion to that of her sad and ever to be deplored dissolution : wherevnto also is annexed an appendix of animadversions vpon severall passages, corrections of sundry errours, and additions of some remarkable matters of this history never before imprinted.; Annales rerum Anglicarum et Hibernicarum regnante Elizabetha. English. 1634	Camden, William, 1551-1623.; Browne, Thomas, 1604?-1673.	1634 (1634)	STC 4499; ESTC S2549	301,814	518

death And he entreated the standers by to accompany him in a little short prayer which with a feruent eiaculation and hearty deuotion he made to God Then he forgaue his executioner and repeated his Creed and fitting his necke to the blocke hauing repeated the fiue first verses of the 51. Psalme hee said Lord I cast my selfe downe humbly and obediently to my deserued punishment Thou O Lord haue mercy vpon thy seruant that is cast downe Into thy hands O Lord I commit my spirit His head after that was stricken off at the third blow but the first tooke away both sence and motion Thus although Byron and the French scoffed at him and this his deuotion which they said was fitter for a Parson then a Souldier as if the feare of Hell were not the valour of a Christian dyed Robert D'Euereux Earle of Essex at the age of foure and thirty yeares very godlily and truely Christianly in as much that his Fathers admonition proued not altogether vaine who bid him haue a care of his six and thirtieth yeare when hee lay a dying Hee was a man certainly very vertuous for all parts that became any Noble man His stocke was very ancient and Noble His sirname was deriued to him from Euereux as the vulgar call it a Citie in Normandy His title of a Lord came by marriage with Cisely the Daughter of William Bourchier whose Grandmother was Sister to Edward 4. K. of England whose great Grandmother was Daughter to Th. of Woodstocke the Son of Edward 3 borne of one of the Daughters of Humphrey Bohune E. of Hartford and Essex whereupon the Title of Viscount of Hartford was bestowed vpon his great Grandfather Walter by Edward 6 and the Title of Earle of Essex bestowed vpon his Father by Queene Elizabeth He being a young man was brought vp at Cambridge in the studies of learning and Religion and afterwards commended by the Earle of Leicester his Father in Law to the Queene and made Master of the Horse although with much adoe he obtained it of the Queene she being somwhat grown strange to his mother But afterwards when by his obseruancy and duty he had purchased her full fauour she forgaue him the debt which his Father owed she made him one of the Order of S. George and of her Priuie Councell when he was scarce 23. yeares olde He was often Commander of Armies although fortune failed him in good successe which I will not say was by reason of the Planet Mars who in the 11. house of Heauen shined most afflictiuely ouer him at his Natiuity And when as now he had not alone the shew of the Queenes fauour but the excesse thereof in very deed he made all haste as the Courtiers most did complaine to outgoe all his Equalls and Superiours too to speake euilly of the praise of any man that was not wholly addicted to him to take heinously if any man had gotten either power or fauour with the Queene to hunt after the popular commendations that alwaies is very short in durance and military praises which are as dangerous by his meeknesse and liberality Also he began to be somewhat selfe-willed and stubborne towards the Queene and rather out of his great minde then pride especially after that she out of her courtesie had renewed her fauour to him which he once lost and had opened a way for new benefits to him But this his contumacy vntowardnes as it were in wrestling out benefits from her and his lothsome neglect of obedience towards her with the crafty vndermining of his enuious aduersaries by little and little toled him out of the Queenes fauour and at length quite estranged him from it Neither indeed was this noble Earle made for a Courtier who was slow to any wickednesse very warie in taking of offence and very loth to forget it and one that could not couer his minde But as Cuffe often vsed to complaine to the Authour of the originall of this Story hee was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one that could neither conceale his loue nor his hatred but alwaies shewed them in his countenance Hee married Frances the Daughter of Francis Walsingham the Widow of Sir Philip Sidney the Queenes aduice not being taken who was offended at it as if by that affinity he had debased Essexes family of whom he got Robert his Sonne Frances and Dorothy his Daughters and Walter by the Lady Southwell On the fift day of March S. Christopher Blunt S. Charles Danuers S. Iohn Dauis S. Gill. Mericke Knights and Cuffe were all arraigned at Westminster before the Lord Admirall of England Hunsdon Chamberlaine Cecill Secretary Sir Iohn Fortescue Chancellour of the Exchequer the Lord chiefe Iustice and others where they were accused of the same faults as the Earles before were to wit that they intended mischiefe to the Queenes Maiesty by consulting of inuading the Court and by rebelling in the Citie The three first of them were demanded whether or no they could not deny one part of their accusation and confesse the other which they did for they denied that euer they intended any thing against the Queene Mericke and Cuffe being taken aside the Iudges as before declared THat he that intendeth to prescribe Lawes to his King or Prince whereby he restraineth his power doth intend mischiefe and destruction to his Prince and doth intend both to take the Crowne Life from him This they proued from the examples of silly Countrimen that were condemned for treason euen in the memory of our forefathers for that they tooke armes and met in Oxford-shire and Kent one to encrease their daily pay for their worke the other to take away the Inclosures of pasture fields For confirmation of this they brought many things besides shewing also that it could not be but that they must needs bring in the Queene vnder subiection also offer violence to her because that Conquerours are alwaies insolent and the fury of a multitude cannot be restrained who to prouide for their owne security and safety feare not the performance of any villany Blunt he is vrged with his owne confessions and the confession of the Earle himselfe who but lately accused him as the onely entiser of him to all wickednesse when he heard it read and signed with the Earles owne hand as he saw it he grew altogether amazed with admiration and greatly required that in some other place he might talke with the Admirall and Cecill concerning that matter but lifting vp his eyes he cryed out openly THou O God knowest well from what purposes and plots I disswaded the Earle of Essex Then was read the confession of Thomas Lee who acknowledged that by the leaue of Blunt who was then Marshall in Ireland he had sent to Tir-Oen and againe from him vnderstood that Tir-Oen had said THat if the Earle of Essex would but hearken vnto him that he would make him the greatest man in England

the Daughter of Henry Earle of Worcester his Grandmother the Daughter of the Lord Mordant and his great Grandmother of the Family of the Courtneyes The other descended from the Blunts of Kidderminster who came from the same Family that the Lords Montioy do● Dauis requested that although he were no Nobleman yet to suffer as they did if not not to be quartered into pieces but to be buried Christianly On the thirtieth day of March Mericke and Cuffe were drawne to Tibourne Cuffe to be short at the Gallowes spake much to this purpose I Am brought hither to pay for my due to nature my sinnes against God my Country and my Prince I doe absolutely beleeue that as I see the infinite iustice of God in beholding the multitude of my infinite sinnes so I shall finde the infinite mercie of God by reason of this greatnesse of my inflicted punishment Here are we the example and patterne of mans estate The death which we are to vnder go is indeed terrible and which is worse it is ignominious But yet it is common to the best of Gods Saints with whom I haue great hope and certainty of rising againe in Christ. Yet let not any man think I put confidence in my own merits away with them I disclaime them I put my whole trust assurance in my Sauiour Christ. And I am absolutely perswaded that whosoeuer is punished in this life in the very same instant feeles great comfort from Heauen within him and that God punisheth him not as a Iudge but as a Father But to come to the occasion of my execution There is scarce any man but knowes how great a tu●ult was raised the eight of February vnder the vnconsiderate Earle of Essex yet here I call God the Angels and my owne conscience to witnesse that I was not guilty of it but that all that day I shut my selfe vp mourning and lamenting Now as concerning the Plot or their Machination that was two-fold And here being interrupted and aduized not to mocke the trueth with distinctions or few Figge-leaues ouer his fault I Confesse saith he that it is a great offence nay that it is treason if so be that a Subiect cast out of fauour should make open his way to the Queene by force of armes but I neuer encited a man to take armes against the Queene But for the danger I brought that noble Lord Neuil in I am heartily sorrie and I entreat him earnestly to forgiue me As for that which I said that of foure and twenty of the Aldermen of London one and twenty of them were for Essex that I meant of their good will and affection towards him and not as if they would take armes against their Queene for him Here againe being stopped and interrupted he falls to prayer vehemently and professing faith in God and loyalty towards hi● Prince and desiring pardon of both he died Sir Gill. Mericke accompanied him in the same kindd of death but with a great vndaunted courage and as weary of his life he once or twice bid Cuffe let passe his vnseasonable wisedome and make an end Yet before he died he excused Deputy Montioy as ignorant of the matter altogether and intreated the Nobles that were by to beg of the Queene not to proceed iudicially or rigorously with many simple people that ou● of ignorance came into the company and number of the Conspiratours Two daies after Sir Christopher Blunt and Sir Charles Danuers were beheaded vpon Tower hill Danuers offered ten thousand pounds to redeeme his life and to liue in perpetuall imprisonment which being refused with a very quiet countenance and minde asking God and the Prince pardon and the L. Grey to whom he had been a great enemy not out of hate to him but loue to Southampton he ended his life Blunt hauing ascended vp the Scaffold speakes to the people much after this manner ALthough the time require that setting all other matters aside I should now fall a crying for mercy at Gods hands for my sinnes yet by reason that I haue beene traduced as an instigator of the Earle of Essex to all this villanie as I desire the saluation of my soule I will speake the truth Some three yeares agoe and more I beheld the minde of the Earle somewhat proane to ambitious desires But lately in Ireland whilest I lay wounded at Rheban Castle and since at Dublin the Earle then told me that he had resolued to send ouer some choice bands to seize vpon Milford Hauen in Wales and to march so vp to London with greater forces I then well considering of the matter throughly disswaded him from it as a thing that was very dangerous and that would cost England great store of bloud Therefore to deale truely I perswaded him rather with some choyce company to seize vpon the Court and get himselfe there faire and reasonable conditions And yet truely we neuer thought of doing any iniurie or wrong to the Queene although I must confesse I know not whether or no if fortune had fauoured our enterprize the businesse would haue beene finished with the death of the Queene Then after the Earle was his owne man and at liberty againe he began to consult with me againe about these matters but wee neuer agreed vpon any thing determinately Afterwards he sent for me out of the Countrie not long before this Rebellion The rest I haue confessed before the Honourable the Admirall and the worshipfull the Secretary to whom to remember my seruice and salute them from me I entreat you Sir Walter Rawleigh of whom I also aske pardon Then lifting vp his eyes to heauen hee cries God preserue the Queenes Maiestie And Lord according to thy infinite mercy pardon the sins of my heart and my lewd life And beare you witnesse all that I die a Catholike but so that I put all my confidence and trust in Christs merits alone and so good people pray for me Then he bids the Lord Grey and Compton farewell and hauing prayed a little softly he giues his necke to the blocke and his life to the executioner And so by the mature execution of the Earle of Essex Cuffe Mericke Danuers and Blunt the rebellion being well laid peace was restored to the Common-wealth The mindes of the rest being well appeased too the richer hauing summes for muscts laid vpon them which very few payed and the rest freely pardoned Southampton being committed to the Tower and with him Thomas Smith Sheriffe of London but hee either out of the Queenes mercy or his owne innocency being indeed calumniously informed of rather then iustly accused within a short time he was restored againe to liberty On the eight day of Iuly Sir Henry Neuill was arraigned at Yorke house before the Priuy Councell and some of the Iudges and was accused for hauing been present at the meeting in Drury house and for not hauing reuealed their plots also for reuealing to Essex the secrets of his

by reason of his offence towards God and his Prince that the Queene gaue the Deputy authority to receiue him into fauour if so be that he did suppliantly craue it according to that humility which his Letters made shew of THE YEARE OF OVR LORD GOD M.DC.III Containing not fully three Moneths of her REIGNE ASsoone as Tir-Oen vnderstood the mercie of the Queene so amply extended towards him he made all meanes possible and dealt with Arthur Ma●-Baron his Brother and others to obtaine it and being often put by it at last he promised that hee would submit both his life and fortune to the iudgement of the Queene The Deputy that had secretly vnderstood from some of his friends the doubtfulnesse of the Queenes health by reason of her age gaue Tir-Oen leaue to come to Melli-Font whither he presently came and being admitted into the Priuie Chamber where the Deputy encircled with a multitude of warlike men sate in his Throne in the very threshold with a deiected countenance falls Tir-Oen vpon his knees And hauing kneeled a while he was wished by the Deputy to come neerer whereupon arising and hauing come some few steps he falls againe downe vpon his knees saying I Acknowledge and aske pardon for my offences against God and my most gratious Prince and Mistresse to whose Princely clemency I doe now flie as to an holy Anchor entreating her to dispose of my life and fortunes as she pleaseth and yet humbly wishing that as heretofore I haue felt her beneficency and but lately her power so now I may feele her mercy and mildnesse and become an euerlasting example and patterne of her clemency Truely my age is not so farre come vpon me neither is my body so much decayed or my courage impaired but that by my future valiant and loyall seruice I may expiate the sinne of my rebellion In processe of his speech when he began to complaine against the enuy of some towards him that occasioned most of his offences the Deputy interrupted him telling him very maiestically which was eloquence enough for a Souldier that no excuse ought to be sowed ouer such a great fault after that he commanded him to depart aside and the next day after he carried him with him to Dublin with intent to send him from thence ouer into England to the Queene to let her deale with him as she pleased Thus the rebellion of Tir-Oen which began out of priuate discontents mingled with ambition and was nurst vp with the contempt and parsimony of England till such time that vnder pretence of restoring the Romane Religion it spread ouer all Ireland being strengthened with many mens too much credulity and the secret fauour of some in authority and one or two happie successes Spanish succour and the Popes Indulgences Thus I say this rebellion that also was still lengthened and prolonged by the enuy of the English one against another by the bipartite command by the auarice of the olde Souldiers by the craft of Tir-Oen and his counterfeit submissions and Truces and by the protections bought by villaines for money and by the great difficultie of the places and the desperatenesse of the ●rish safer in their swiftnesse of flight then abode in warre now at length in the eight yeare after its first breaking out vnder the happy command of the Lord Montioy Deputy created afterwards E. of Deuonshire was most fortunately finished The Queene who hitherto by reason of her abstinence from wine and moderate dyet which she said was the chiefest part of phisicke enioyed perfect health now entring into her Climactericall yeare to wit seauenty began somewhat to be sensible of defect of health and strength which the indisposition of the aire towards the end of Ianuary being a filthy windy and rainy day much improoued when she remooued from Westminster to Richmond on purpose to refresh her olde age with quietnesse and to giue her selfe to godlinesse wholly Vpon which day as if she were about somewhat else I know not whether she thought vpon or prophesied of her death she said to the Admirall whom she dearely loued MY Throne is a Throne of Kings neither ought any but my next Heire to succeed me The Courtiers obserued her more then ordinarily to frequent prayers and Sermons and they also report that she then commanded a Ring with which at her Inauguration she married her selfe to her Kingdome to be cut off from her finger which hauing beene neuer puld off had euen growne into her flesh This they tooke for ill lucke to come expecting a diuorce shortly betweene her and her Kingdomes to whom that Ring married her In the beginning of her sicknesse the Almonds of her Iawes did swell suddenly and grew lancke againe suddenly then her appetite to meate grew sensibly worse and worse whereupon she became exceeding sad and seemed to be much grieued at some thing or other whether or no it were by reason of the violence of her sicknesse or out of her want of Essex as many of his admirers belieued or rather that after so great charges of warre because she was perswaded to pardon Tin-Oen the Authour or rather because that by some whisperings and Letters from the King of France she had heard that most of her Nobility in priuate Letters and Messengers curried fauour already with the King of Scotland adoring him as the rising Sunne and neglecting her as ready to set And this certainly she too much belieued by reason of the vice of her Sex and olde age which is alwaies suspitious Neither indeed was it a bare suspition in her for many of her Courtiers besides some Ladies who least of all ought to haue done it by reuolting from her almost forsooke her when indeed she was nothing altered in her selfe from what she was but they onely in their opinion Whether or no it were that they saw her neere her end or whether or no they were weary with her long Reigne for so pleasing is alteration and change to the nature of man that there is an irkesomnesse euen of good things of long continuance or whether or no out of too credulous couetousnesse of nouelties and alterations they despised the present case and expe●cted better some forgetting her but late benefits and finding fault with the times it may be out of a Court-mystery onely to curry fauour with the Successour and all this in a halfe opinion and conceit that the discrediting of the deceased would proue a great delight to the Successour Insomuch that some vnder this pretence found fault with others and others propounded the sending for a Successour whilest the Queene was yet but of sickly health being run-wayes in minde though they stayd at home These things so grieued the Queene that she accounted her selfe a wretch forsaken and the indignation of her sicknesse wrackt out such words from her THey haue yoaked my necke I haue none now to trust my estate is turned topside turuey And so witty was their more ciuill